Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. James 1:12-13

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Good morning my friends! Hello to my new followers. I am so glad to have all my friends come visit me, new and old.

Well I have been busy making things. And none of it cross stitch! Since the kids were home for 5 days because of the holiday, I could not stitch on the XI ornaments. This is a picture of our front porch taken yesterday afternoon.

I have had the little pink Christmas tree with pink lights for a few years now. I just made the wreath over the weekend. I found the book Have Yourself A Very Vintage Christmas at the library. Well, when I found that 50's wreath, I just had to make it. I was rather surprised Brian is agreeable to it. But I am glad.♥ I think it looks pretty good with the pale pink bricks in our home.

While shopping at JoAnn for my wreath supplies, I spotted the perfect fabric for a pair of pajama pants for Emerson. He keeps growing!!! He is 6'3" now, the tallest in the house.

I teased him and said he would look like a tall tree with this fabric. ;) He likes such different fabric than me. He is very artistic. I have made him pj pants before. Actually this is the seventh time I have sewn these for the family, everyone but me! I use the tutorial found here. I decided from the start to keep them simple and I skip the whole cuff thing.

I also found some really nice yellow fabric at JoAnn. My kitchen is pale yellow. I am telling you it is hard to find pretty yellow fabric at JoAnn. I kind of look for it occasionally, so that when I do find some I get it. So I bought small quantities. That's all I need to make two hot pads. I made one last year using a pattern I found in another library book. This one I just went on memory and guess work.

I like it! I have two other yellow fabrics, to make another hot pad, but not just yet. The kids are back to school and I need to get their ornaments done before St. Nick's!

So this is "Fuzzy Wuzkins" in her new bed I stitched up for her. I had the fleece for months, waiting until it was time to replace her last bed. I should be giving Mabel her hair cut this week by the way. I just gave Brian and Emerson theirs! Always something right?

I don't use a pattern for these dog beds, I just wing it.

I finished reading The Sanctuary by Ted Dekker. Wow! What a good book. I have never been disappointed in a book by him. And I have read 35 books by him!! He writes pretty wild thrillers about good vs. evil.

Well off to the treadmill and then to stitch. I hope you have a fabulous day my friends. Thanks for visiting me! Come again.♥

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Good morning everybody! I am so glad you are here. I love friends.♥ We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We ate at the in-laws this year. Had dessert at my mom's then. Much time spent with both families. Do you remember this Salvation Army find?

She is missing her poodle. :( I stitched 3 different poodles by "me". They all got frogged out. None looked right to me.

So here it is ready to go. I keep looking for another wooden recipe box. I need one more for the first half of my recipes.

I finished the book The Shadow On The Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson. What a great book. It is historical fiction. I started The Sanctuary by Ted Dekker. Very good so far. Ted is my all time favorite author. He writes thrillers about good vs. evil. This is a second book to The Priest's Graveyard. Yeah, he doesn't exactly write about "normal" stuff. ;)

I have begun a new project. It is not cross stitch. It is a Christmas wreath for the front door. More on that soon.

I am still trying to get the XI ornaments stitched up. Near impossible for a while, with the kids having 5 days off for the holiday.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heartGive thanks unto the Holy OneGive thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His SonGive thanks with a grateful heartGive thanks unto the Holy OneGive thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us" And now let the weak say, "I am strong"Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Good morning my friends! Welcome new friends. Are we all getting excited about tomorrow? Nom, nom, nom!! I will be making the jello and the sweet potatoes. I adore sweet potatoes. We eat them at other times of the year also. They are way too good to eat only at Thanksgiving and Christmas. =) We will have to go to church tonight. We have never attended a Thanksgiving service the night before. It is necessary this year since Brian is working third shift and does not have off. Oh well, we are still thanking our God. ♥

My good friend Annette all the way out in California received the little pincushion I made her. AND she says she loves it. I am so glad.

She is a fellow lover of pink!♥

These spiderweb roses are fun to make I must say. Nope. Not sick of making pincushions as presents at all! I love it. It is so much fun. =)

Remember this? Yes, I completed a second one. One to go. They finally found the missing book, 365 Alphabets by Kooler Design Studio. Of course they did! I waited since the beginning of September for them to locate that book. So Brian ordered me a very well priced one off the internet. It should be here any day now. Ironic right? Oh well. I like the book very much and will use it repeatedly. I just prefer the library, to buying my own books.

The winner. The winner. The winner of the Sampler & Antique Needlework is...... Cucki!! Hooray! I have emailed her and she sent me that address back lickety split! I will be off to the post office later today. =)

Mabel is going the longest she ever has for being unafflicted with a flare up in her back since this began for her months ago. We are so happy.♥ I too am still experiencing less pain than earlier in the year. I am thankful to God for that. We have much to be thankful to God for at this house. You too?

Have a wonderful holiday my American friends. And EVERYONE have a wonderful day in the Lord.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

I found a free image for a maple leaf on the internet to use with my Calabash Sunset Batik fabric. I cut one for the front and back. I also cut a middle layer out of some remnant brown flannel I had. Madeleine sized and printed off the letters for me. They are cut from black cotton I had. I bought a spool of brown ribbon from JoAnn and sewed the leaves onto it. Brian hung it out front yesterday afternoon. =) I am very pleased with it.

I got note from Laurie down in Texas(no blog) that she received my bottle cap pincushion and counting pins I made her.

It looks almost the same as the one I just sent Vicki. I used two different yellows with one orange for the spiderweb roses on Laurie's. I used two different oranges with one yellow for the roses on Vicki's.

To be honest, I used two yellows for Laurie's because I could not get "The Yellow Rose of Texas" out of my head while stitching it!! ;)

I just went to the post office yesterday to get another gift on it's way.♥

I finished reading a booklet entitled Sex Is Sacred by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D. Brian read it a while ago, so I decided it was time for me. It is a nice booklet that explains plainly why sex is a gift from God for married couples. We are planning on sharing it with our kids. That was the purpose of the writing in the first place. After my recent dealings with the young mother at school, we have been really thinking. Parents just are not teaching their children these things anymore. And really, it is just so basic!

I have just begun a new book, The Shadow On The Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It would be the second in The Quilt Chronicles series. Very good so far.

And finally friends, I would like to offer this:

This is another magazine Laurie passed along to me to give to you. Just be a follower and leave a comment telling me you would like this, on this post. I will draw the winner on Wednesday, November 21st.

I am back to stitching the XI ornaments for my kids. I am stitching a seasonal piece in the evenings, and the ornaments while they are in school. ;)

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Hi everybody! Turning cold tonight. We are not getting that snow after all. Yay! =) I did get about an hour's worth of work done cleaning up the garden yesterday with Mabel.That will be all that gets done for this weekend. It is slow going when you are the only one cleaning up all the garden beds. Mabel's help does NOT count! ;)

I got an email this afternoon from Vicki down in Arizona. She received my small gift I sent to thank her. She gifted me with some magazines with nice patterns in them. =)

I was going for an autumn type look. First time I stitched up spiderweb roses. Fun!

I like this one so much, I do plan on making myself one just like it! Believe it or not, I do not own a bottle cap pincushion of my own!! I keep making them because they are so addictive for me.♥ I will be creating another like this, and then I fear I may have to move right on to Christmas projects. :( Time is just flying by. I finished that 4th gift I was working on. I will be getting one out in the post this week. I am beginning my fall banner tonight. I hope to share that with you soon.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Good morning everybody! I hope you get enjoyable weather this weekend. We will reach the sixties and it will be sunny. Until Sunday night!!! Snow and cold then. Yuck! Hello to new followers. Welcome.

It is such fun to receive packages. A gift for me just because, is really, really fun! Annette made this for ME! Such care in the wrapping. Annette does such pretty work. There is the most adorable, little spool hanging from the card she made me.♥

Isn't this great? She said she went with pinks and candy fun colors. ;) The linen is a pink candy cane striped 28 ct linen. Love it. That is one pink linen I did not own! The pretty pink lace trim will be put to use!♥ Now, the pouch. Can you tell Annette has mastered the technique?! She really knows what she is doing. I am so happy. This is my first zippered pouch. =) Such time and effort put into it. And especially for me too. Thank you once again Annette. What a special friend you are.

I am almost done with my third little giftie. Actually this would be a fourth one, as I cannot decide which to send on, number 3 or 4. I will decide this weekend, and then send this on it's way.Still no word on the other two gifts being received.

Jacob returned to us last night. He had been on a retreat offered through school. This was an optional retreat, so it was an intimate group of almost 30 seniors. We parents waited in the chapel to welcome them back. It was a special time, rather emotional. The children felt it was a life changing experience for them. Guess who came in the chapel right as we were ready to start? The new mom with her tiny babe! She is a senior herself, and a few of her friends went on this retreat, so she wanted to be there when they returned. =) She sat across the chapel from Brian and I, facing us. She spotted us and smiled. We went to her after the service. She was so happy and thankful. She said she recognized us and knew who we were. We had signed our names on the card with the gift. We never knew she knew of us though. And guess what Shirlee?? She positively beamed as she pointed out to me, "See, she is wearing the outfit." The precious little outfit you gave her Shirlee. It fits, with a bit of room to spare. What really touched my heart, is that I had only delivered it to the office at school that very morning. She went home to her child after school, and put her in that outfit planning to show that precious child to us. =) Oh, I am such a softie. I am crying again at this very moment!! The little baby girl is just so beautiful. Dark, fluffy hair and dark brown eyes.

So....... I finished A Place Of Remembrance. Very good book. Well, I am off to start the day friends. I hope you all have a stitchy weekend.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Good morning everybody! How are you today? Things are going well here. It is cool and a bit rainy here. You may have noticed I don't use the Random Generator when I chose my winners. Well, I just prefer it the old fashioned way, picking a winner out of a hat, or poodle coin purse. ;) I have noticed a few have had their cats pick a winner. I thought, hey, Mabel can do that! So, it may have taken 3 attempts, she is just too clever.

On the third try we had a name dangling from little Mabel's poodle ear. A WINNER!!! =)

Hooray for Jane! Jane's comment was: Such a pretty little baby stitch and skin tone looks just right to me.
Happy 18th to your Son, hope your celebrations went well, the cake looks fab!
Would love a chance of winning your extra magazine, it's like trying to find gold-dust here in the UK!!!
Take Care
Jane
x
I am waiting for Jane to contact me and then off goes the Just Cross Stitch 2012 Ornament Issue. =)

I made two of the three gifts I was working on. They are on their way to their new owners. These two ladies do not know this. I have pictures, I just will have to wait a few more days til I share them with you. I am working on the third gift, so no pictures to share there either. Next, I will be sewing a fall decoration for our home. Always so much to do, right?!?

I finished reading Mondays With My Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo. This was a book borrowed to me by my FIL. It is a book about renewing our spiritual life with God. Getting our priorities straight. It was pretty good. I am now reading A Place Of Remembrance by National Geographic. This book was a gift from my in-laws. They just bought it on their trip to New York. They flew out for a long weekend to see Ground Zero and a few sights. The memorial is extremely moving they say. They book is completely on the memorial. It is a very good book.

Have a great day in the Lord my friends! And a big welcome to my new friends. =)

Friday, November 2, 2012

Good morning everybody! I hope and pray you are well. I am going to tell you first off before I forget again. I have been experiencing less pain for about 3 weeks now friends! I thank all of my special praying friends. YOU have made a difference for me. I am so thankful to God for less pain. I may as well mention also, that the pain specialist denied me! I was actually speechless when the young woman told me this on the phone. He is in the top 1% of successful pain specialists in the U.S. He reviewed my long history. Basically, I have tried all there is to try at this time. He feels there is nothing new he could offer me. Brian and I have been praying over this. It was very depressing and a BIG let down. With time, I have come to accept this. Things develop and change in medicine. In years to come there may be something new for me. I would love to be rid of pain forever of course. For now I have prayer and prescriptions. God will help me. He always has.

So........ We went to the Milwaukee Art Museum yesterday. First Thursday of the month is free day. Gotta love free!

The Milwaukee Art Museum opens Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough: The
Treasures of Kenwood House, London, an exhibition of forty-eight
masterpieces on tour from the Iveagh Bequest collection. Most of the
paintings have never traveled to the States before, and many of them
have rarely been seen outside London’s Kenwood House. The exhibition is
organized by the American Federation of Arts and English Heritage.

It was wonderful. Brian and I enjoyed it very much.

The sweet ornament for the new mom is done and will be delivered along with an adorable outfit from Shirlee, on Monday.♥

The fabric in the background is the backing fabric.

I spent last night pulling supplies for 3 tiny gifts I am creating. I do believe I have just the right colors pulled together now. =) Since there will be no pictures of those for a while, I thought I would show you a hint of another project I will be making up.

Isn't this some Ca-razy fabric?! I found it at JoAnn. It was red sticker price/clearance. It is called Calabash Sunset. I am not normally into Batiks, but for less than $6 I got 2 yards. It will work for the fall colors. This will be another banner/bunting for the house.

Hello new friends!!

That's it for today. I hope you have some great creativity time today friends. Have a super day!♥

Stitcher's Prayer

God Grant that I may see to stitch until my dying day.When the last thread is cut and scissors tucked away.May the work that I have done, live on.That other folk may see,The pleasure I have known LORD,From the gift you gave me!

Epic Pink Tumbler Quilt

ZERO different, pink, 5x5 fabrics still needed!!! YES! I HAVE ALL 817 OF THEM NOW!!